'Plant Agriculture' spreads the word about food, fiber

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Charles Benton, a Texas Farm Bureau field representative, is on hand at the 'Planet Agriculture' exhibit at the H.O.T. Fairgrounds to promote farming and ranching. He explains how animals and their by-products are used for every day items. Photo by Mindy Poehl

Oct. 21, 2004 - County fairs and other rural celebrations go hand-in-hand with the fall season. At many of these sites an overall review of Texas agriculture is captured in a single exhibit. For instance, "Planet Agriculture" is an interactive exhibit that was set up at the Heart of Texas (H.O.T.) Fair and Rodeo held in Waco all last week. It is an educational concept designed to unite participants with farming and ranching. It demonstrates how agriculture relates to everyday life.

Hosted by the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB), the demonstration uses interactive displays to maximize the learning process through sight, sound and touch. "Planet Agriculture" showcases byproducts of cotton, dairy, goats, beef, poultry and forestry. Samples of the different parts of the cotton plant were on display for participants to touch, along with mohair, wool and other agricultural commodities. Live chickens, turkeys, piglets, beef cows and baby goats are kept on site to show participants where many products come from.

"It's an opportunity for the Texas Farm Bureau to let people know where food and fiber come from," Charles Benton, a field representative with the TFB, said. "It shows them how important these things are to them and their daily lives."

Standing by the cotton exhibit, Benton explained how cotton is used in many things beside clothing and textiles.

"Cotton is used for blue jeans, food with by-products and the leather on your camera case," Benton said. "Oil-based products come from cotton and the cottonseed oil goes into things like vanilla frosting, chips and dressings."

Benton also explained how beef cattle provide numerous by-products that are used on a daily basis.

"Ninety-nine percent of every beef animal is utilized in beef by-products. Beef isn't only used for providing food," Benton explained. "Beef by-products are also used in household goods, like candles, glue, bandages and clothing. It is also used by the medical field for many pharmaceutical goods."

The "Planet Agriculture" exhibit began in 1997 at the H.O.T. Fair and Rodeo, in Waco. Since then, it has expanded to the Fort Worth Stock Show, the North Texas State Fair in Denton, the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene and the Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo in Austin. The exhibit is also set up at other busy sites during National Ag Week and it appears at many stock shows.